Today marks the Anniversary of the Birth of Queen Alexandra of the United Kingdom, who was born on this day in 1844! The Danish Princess who was the longest-serving Princess of Wales and then a trendsetting Queen Consort, her jewellery collection included the striking Dagmar Necklace!
Queen Alexandra’s Kokoshnik Tiara | Wedding Gift Tiara | Amethyst Tiara | Diamond Circlet | Turquoise Circlet | Diamond Rivière | Dagmar Necklace | Diamond Chandelier Earrings | Sapphire Necklace | Diamond Link Choker | Edwardian Choker | Collier Résille
When Princess Alexandra of Denmark married the Prince of Wales, the eldest son of Queen Victoria, in 1863, she received her Wedding Gift Tiara from the groom, a Diamond Rivière from the City of London, and Prince of Wales Feather Brooches from Ladies of Wales, while her most notable gift from her homeland, presented by her parents’ cousin, King Frederik VII of Denmark, was this striking Pearl and Diamond Necklace set in Gold with a replica of the ‘Dagmar Cross’
This elaborate necklace was a wedding gift to Alexandra from Frederik VII of Denmark. It incorporates a replica of a famous, enamelled, twelfth-century cross, buried with Dagmar, Queen of Denmark in 1212. Frederik suggested that the replica contain a fragment of wood said to be from the True Cross and a scrap of silk from the grave of King Canute.
The Princess of Wales notably wore the Dagmar Necklace across her corsage when she dressed as Mary, Queen of Scots for the legendary Waverley Ball in London in 1871, to commemorate the centenary of the birth of Sir Walter Scott.
Almost forty years after her wedding, Queen Alexandra notably wore the Dagmar Necklace on her bodice, which can be spotted buried under large ropes of pearls, for the Coronation of King Edward VII in 1902.
Upon her passing in 1925, Queen Alexandra bequeathed the necklace as an heirloom of the Crown on the condition that it could not be altered.
A few decades later, Queen Alexandra’s Dagmar Necklace was worn by Queen Elizabeth II, without the cross and two larger pearl pendants, on a handful of occasions in the 1950s, beginning with Ball given by the Royal Company of Archers at the Royal Archers Hall in Edinburgh, which was the first official function attended by the Queen since coming out of mourning after her father’s death.
The Queen also notably wore the Dagmar Necklace with Queen Alexandra’s Kokoshnik Tiara on the British State Visit to Denmark in 1957, honouring their ties to Queen Alexandra’s native Denmark.
The Dagmar Necklace was worn for the German State Visit to Britain in 1958, which was not as fitting as Queen Alexandra famously hated Germans, as well as a film premiere in 1960, which seems to be its last public appearance.
After being exhibited at the Victoria and Albert Museum a few years ago, Queen Alexandra’s Dagmar Necklace was on display in the ‘Edwardians: Age of Elegance’ Exhibition at the King’s Gallery at Buckingham Palace for much of this year. Lets hope we see it worn again soon or on display!
Queen Alexandra’s Kokoshnik Tiara | Wedding Gift Tiara | Amethyst Tiara | Diamond Circlet | Turquoise Circlet | Diamond Rivière | Dagmar Necklace | Diamond Chandelier Earrings | Sapphire Necklace | Diamond Link Choker | Edwardian Choker | Collier Résille
Queen Alexandra’s Wedding Parure
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